Folding chair and cot



Oct. 3, 1933. s. M. BISHOP FOLDING CHAIR AND COT Filed Feb. 9, 1932 lzpi m gwoentoc ffimr f/yran/ W Patented Oct. 3, 1933 *CUNi ED 'srA 7FOLDING CHAIR, AND cor Storrs Myron Bishop, Schenectady, N; Y., as-

signor to Peckham, Wolf & 00., Schenectady, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork 7 Application February 9, 1932. Serial No. 591,90'7

' 4 Claims. (01. 155-45) The present invention relates to improvementsin folding furniture, and has for its object to provide a simple, strongand inexpensive article, whichmay be folded into a small compass whennot in use, and which is adapted to have its parts ,so related as toform either a chair or a cot or couch. f V

.Articles of furniture of this class are commonly employed asporchfurniture, andthe object of the presentinvention is to providesuchan article which will comprise a minimum number of parts securelyunited,and which can be converted to either of the uses referred to with aminimum amount of effort. a

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an article of furniture embodying theinvention, showing the parts thereof positioned to serve as a chair.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing the arrangement of parts whenarranged to constitute a couch or, cot. I 1

Referring to the drawing, in the several views .of which like parts aredesignated by the same reference character,'it will be seen that theimprovements comprise essentially two main frames, one includingparallel side bars 1 connected by suitable transverse bars 3, 3a, andthe other comprising elongated parallelside bars 2, which are connectedby suitable transverse bars or members 4,5,and6.

As shown in Figures 1 and-2,whenthe parts are related toadapt thearticle for use as a chair, said mainframes are positioned so that theside bars 1, 2, thereof are in intersecting relation and a strip offabric, such as suitable canvas 7, is connected with'the cross bars 3,4, andconstitutes the back andseat of [the chair.

Two arms 10 pivotally connected with the side bars 2 of one of the mainframes are adapted to be detachably connected with the side bars 1 ofthe other main frame, and constitute arms of the chair andhold the samein the relative'positions shown. p

By disconnecting the arms 10 from the side bars 101 the main frame, saidarms may be turned about their pivotal connection with the side bars 2into a vertical position,such as shown in Figure 3, in which theyconstitute legs for supporting one end of the frames when positioned toconstitute a couch or cot.

Wh'en'in this position, the bevelled upper end of the leg 10 contactswith the cross bar 5 to prevent turning movement thereof about its pivotin one direction, and each leg is disposed in subs'tantially the samevertical plane as one of a pair of links 13, which links are pivotallyconnected to the side bars of the main frames at points below theintersections thereof when related to serve as the frame of a chair. Bythis arrangement I insure that there is no danger of the stability ofthe cot being destroyed by unintentional turning of the arms or legs 10about their pivotal connection with the members 2 of the main frame. Ametallic plate 13a, disposed on the outer face of member 13, overliesthe outer surface of leg 10 (Figs. 1 and 3) and prevents the respectivelegs from spreading. The end of bar 1 overlies a portion of the innersurface of leg 10 and prevents accidental collapse in the oppositedirection. As stated above, the bevelled upper end of each leg 10contacts the cross bar 5 and prevents pivotal movement of the legoutwardly away from the link 13. Because of the fact that leg 10 andlink 13 lie in substantially the same vertical plane, pivotal movementof the leg in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3) is prevented by the end ofthe link 13 which acts as an abutment to arrest movement in thatdirection. Thus the legs are braced in four directions. I r r I Coilsprings 15 depending from eyes attached to the cross bar 5 are adaptedto be detachably engaged with eyes 16 on the side members 1 of the mainframe and act to yieldingly support the fabric strip 7, so that it isadapted to serve as a comfortable bottom for the couch or cot when theparts are'positioned asshown in Figure 3. If no supporting means wereprovided between the ends of the .side bars 1 and the cross bar 5 of thesecond frame, thebars 1 would be forced downwardly by weight on thecanvas 7 until they contacted the cross bar 6 located therebelow. Byinterposing springs 15 between the first-named frame and an upperportion of the second named frame, the fabric 7 is yieldingly supportedat its lower ends because the cross bar 3 is permitted to give someunder the weight of the person reclining upon thecouch.

When the parts are arranged to constitute a chair, as shown inFigures 1. and 2, thesprings 15 may alsobe engaged with theeyes 16 toassist in holding the parts in operative position, although, they arenot necessary, and, if desired, may be arranged as shownin dotted linesin Figure 2, in which the ends thereof, adapted to engage the eyes 16,are interengaged one with the other.

An additional frame comprising side bars 20 pivotally connected with thesides 1 of the main frame and adapted to be turned to constitute anextension ofsuch frame, as shown in Figure3, or to lie behind, anddepend from, said main frame when the parts are positioned to serve as achair, completes the article, 5 1 V The side bars 20 of the supplementalframe are cohnected'by cross bars 21, which are united by-a strip ofcanvas, or suitable material 22, and when such supplemental frame-ispositioned as shown frame, said material 22 serves as a portion of thetop of the cot or couch.

Each of the side bars of the supplemental frame is provided with afoot23, which, when the parts are positioned as shown in Figure 3,

serves as a support for the lower end of the cot;

or couch. Each foot is pivoted tothe adjacent side bar 20, and may beswung inside of the same when not in use, as shown in Figure 1. Crossbar 21a acts as a stop and holds the legs upright when they are insupporting position. 1

When the parts are positioned to constitute a chair, as shown in Figures1 and 2, the supplemental frame is retained in'the operative positionshown by means of a hook carried by one of the side bars 1 of themainframe and engaging an eye on a side bar of the supplemental frame.In this position the supplemental frame is in rear of and entirelyconcealed from view by the seat and back portion 7 of the chair, and yetdoes not in any way interfere with the use of the chair.

By disconnecting the arms 10 from the projections 12 and allowing thesame to assume a vertical position and turning the supplemental framesection about its pivotal connection with the main frame, the parts canbe readily converted into the relation shown in Figure 3 and adapted toserve as a comfortable couch or cot.

When desired, by disconnecting the arms 10 from the side bars 1 of themain frame, the main frames can be folded into substantial alignmentwith each other and with the supplemental frame, so that the entirearticle will occupy a minimum amount of space.

It is believed that the manner of use and advantages of the improvedarticle will be readily apparent from the'foregoing description inconnection with the drawing, and it will be understood that except wherespecifically described in the appended claims, the invention is not tobe limited to the exact details shown, the drawing being intended to beillustrative rather than restrictive of the invention.

When the parts are positioned to serve as a chair, the latter iscapable, owing to the pivotal ing, in combination, two main frames eachincluding two parallel side bars, the side bars of said frames being inintersecting relation, cross bars connecting the side bars of eachframe, a strip of fabric uniting said cross bars, arms pivotally"connected to the side bars of one of said frames and having means. fordetachably connecting their other ends with the side bars of the othersaid frame; whereby when said arms are detached from the'rlast saidframe they may assume a vertical position and constitute legs of a cot,two links pivotally connected respectively to the respective side barsof both frames at points below the'intersection of said bars, asupplemental section including parallel side bars pivotally connected tothe side bars of one of the main frames,

whereby they may be positioned to form a con-' tinuation of said mainframe or to lie behind said main frame, cross bars connecting the sidebars of the supplemental section, a strip of fabric united to the crossbars of the supplemental section, and a foot piece projectingdownward'from said supplemental section when it is positioned to form anextension of the main frame.

3. A combined folding chair and cot, comprising, in combination, twomain frames each including two parallel side bars, the side bars of saidframes being in intersecting relation, cross bars connecting the'sidebars of each frame, a strip of fabric uniting said cross bars, armspivotally connected to the side bars of one of said frames and havingmeans for detachably connecting their other ends with the side bars ofthe other said frame, whereby when said arms are detached from the lastsaid frame they may assumea vertical position and constitute legs of acot, two links pivotally connected respectively to the respective sidebars of both frames at points below the intersection of said bars, asupplemental section including parallel side bars pivotally connected tothe side bars of one of the main frames, whereby they may be positionedto form a continuation of said mainframe or to lie behind saidmainframe, and means for fixedly securing the supplemental section inpredetermined rela-' connections between the main frames by the bars.tion t the adjacent m fr m when the frames 13 to have a limited rockingmovement, and when the parts are adjusted into the relation shown inFigure 3, the resulting cot or couch has a yielding or flexible bottomextending substantially throughout its length.

I claim: 1

1. A combined folding chair and cot, comprising, in combination, twomain frames each including two parallel side bars, the side bars of saidframes being in intersecting relation, cross bars connecting the sidebars of each frame, a strip of fabric uniting said cross bars, armspivotally connected to the side bars of one of said frames and havingmeans for detachably connecting their other ends with the side bars ofthe other said frame, whereby when said arms are detached from the lastsaid frame they may assume a vertical position and constitute legs of acot, two links pivotally connected respectively to the respective sidebars of both frames at points below the intersection of said bars, andasupplemental section pivotally connected with one of the main frames,whereby it may be positioned to format continuation of said main frameor to lie behind said main frame, said supplemental section beingprovided adjacent its free end with a foot adapted to'support saidsection when turned to form an extension of the main frame.

2. Acombined folding chair and cot, compris necting their "other endswith the side bars ofthe other said frame, whereby when said arms aredetached from the last said frame they may assume a vertical positionand constitute legs of a cot, two links pivotally connected respectivelyto the respective side bars of both frames at points below theintersection of said bars, a supplemental section including parallelside bars pivotally connected to the sidebars of one of the main frames,whereby they may be positioned to forms. continuation of said mainframe'or to lie behind said main frame, a foot piece projecting downwardfrom the supplemental section when it is positioned toform an extensionof the main frame, and springs detachably connecting the sidebars of themain frame in advance of the intersection of said frames when the partsare positioned to form a cot.

s'roaas MYRON BISHOP.

